The government will spend a total of RM2,000 on each trainee under the revived National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 and this amount is lower than what was spent for PLKN 1.0 and 2.0, says Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin (pic).
The Defence Minister said RM565mil was spent annually under PLKN 1.0 for 71,300 trainees.
For PLKN 2.0 the government forked out RM361mil to train 20,000 trainees.
“For PLKN 3.0, a total of RM200mil will be spent to train more than 100,000 trainees,” he said in response to a supplementary question raised by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (IND-Muar).
Syed Saddiq had questioned the cost of the PLKN programmes, claiming that RM11bil was spent to conduct the previous programmes, which amounted to RM11,000 per trainee.
Khaled explained that RM7,900 was spent on a trainee under PLKN 1.0, RM18,000 per trainee under PLKN 2.0 and RM2,000 under the current programme.
He said the current cost was much lower than the previous programmes and involves a high number of participants.
Earlier, Khaled informed Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) that PLKN 3.0 would be implemented nationwide, including in Sarawak in 2026.
He said PLKN 3.0 in Sarawak will be carried out at the 511th Territorial Army Regiment Camp.
PLKN 3.0 pilot programme was launched on Jan 12 after it was abolished seven years ago.
The programme is being implemented based on voluntary participation in three series at two camps this year.
PLKN 3.0 Series 1 involves the participation of 120 voluntary trainees consisting of 80 men and 40 women aged between 18 and 25 and from various backgrounds, races, religions, education and localities.
The trainees will undergo a training module that integrates 70% basic military training and 30% statehood components.
